The Kakamega county Covid-19 Emergency Response Committee is now controlling inter-county trade with its neighbours to curb the possible spread of coronavirus.
Committee co-chairman and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Monday said the free movement of people from neighbouring counties in and out of Kakamega increases interactions.
These interactions are even more in markets providing a fertile ground for the virus to spread, he said.
"We have agreed to control inter-county trading as a measure aimed at limiting movements and interactions," Oparanya said.
The decision appeared to have been informed by the rising Covid-19 cases in neighbouring Siaya county recently.
Siaya is one of the hotspots earmarked by the national government for mass testing in ramped up efforts to combat Covid-19.
The Kakamega committee also announced that roadblocks will be mounted on all entries and exit to the county immediately to facilitate mass screening.
"All people entering and leaving the county will be screened at the checkpoints and all public service vehicles checked to ascertain whether they keep passenger manifests of their clients. This will help in the event of contact tracing," Oparanya said.
The committee received a donation of 12,000 face masks from the Kakamega National Chambers of Commerce Industry branch for distribution to boda boda riders.
The traders also donated 480 liters of sanitiser and soap for hand-washing.
Oparanya said he will meet with all elected leaders from the county and the county assembly leadership to agree on a formula on how to handle donations towards the Covid-19 virus.
Oparanya also varied his earlier order on closure of markets, instead announcing that the county government will buy one million face masks to distribute to traders.
Out of the masks, 600,000 will be given to traders and other vulnerable groups while 400,000 will be issued to medics. Oparanya had initially said there would be no free face masks.
"We have realised that as much as we ask the traders to stay at home, they come to markets and when you ask them they say they are looking for food. That's why we have decided to give them masks so that they put them on and maintain the social distance while doing their business," the governor said.
He said markets were potential areas for the spread of the virus and directed mandatory wearing of masks. He directed county askaris to enforce the order.
"Anybody who will be found without wearing masks at market centers will be arrested and taken to the quarantine at his or her own cost," Oparanya said.
Edited by P. O
